Training away from home ground

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Four men in a van going training, plus one trainer. http://www.roxcool.co.uk/ cliff Lowther of Roxcool is taking us to the local training wall, http://www.sunderlandwall.co.uk/ to start off this weekends SPA course.

 

Super venue with excellent facilities

Cliffs going through kit uses and technical data, lots of information ready for the main body of the course which starts tommorrow at Scugdale. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=893 super location.

Sorting out the gear ready for the training session at Scugdale crag.

Walking into the crag Cliff discusses methods of engaging with your clients/group. Whilst heading up we talk about local history and it's routes plus flora and fauna. All important subjects to make the whole experience an enjoyable one, for you and your group.

Time to get supple, bit of team engagement in order. This can be suited to each crag how you warm up, different crags offer different options. Cliffs method was superb, really got the team motivated.

Cliff set us some pretty hard tasks in the way of anchors, not an easy place to setup at. If you want to see more then sign up on one of Cliffs courses, see dates below.

So the day was tough, but fun and exciting. Lots of new techniques learnt and chances to test those new found skill sets.

 We did get chance to run a few routes as well.

Next route Adam lead Oak Tree Wall at HS, another super route.

After a full day at Scugdale 09:00 till 18:00 it's off back to the climbing wall for some in door techniques which will cover rescues and stuck climbers all on top rope. 

So not easy as you have to tackle the proplem on your own using what gear you have or haven't put on your rack. Interesting as we all don't setup for this eventuality, or certainly very few of us do.

So day two, were are up early to pick up the guys and head off to Bowden Doors Northumberland. 

Bowden doors http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=824

Anchor setup, don't worry Alec is stood on terra firma not hanging off the crag. We had a great session here as again the anchors were not easily had or to hand. You had to think about what you were doing, and how you were going to do it.

Time to climb, and test our setup.

Next stop http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=838 Kyloe-in the woods.

Busy location, not alot of parking to be had. Cliff has a great GREEN policy, were possible the use of one vehicle only to reduce the impact on the local area and the crag.

Alec bringing up his partner, guess what. The partner had no clue as to what will happen next, nor Alec I think. Oh dear your second is stuck, get to it. Cliff looks on, and makes sure safety is in first place before anything is done. So it's time to use those skill sets learnt at the climbing wall, of course if you want to know more then book yourself on a course.

Rescue system being setup.

So it's getting late, we make up the gear and Cliff gives his feedback to each student as we walk back across the fields.

It's the long trip home for me back to Derbyshire. Must admit, better to do the course away from home as it makes for a super weekend away and the chance to climb somewere new with new people.Ten out of ten for the course, can't wait to come back for the assessment in September.